Luke 15
New Matthew Bible
The loving mercy of God is openly seen in the parables of the hundredth sheep and of the son that was lost.
15 Then all the publicans and sinners sought him out, in order to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, He receives sinners into his company, and eats with them. 3 Then Jesus put forth this similitude to them, saying, 4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the countryside and go after the one that is lost until he finds him? 5 And when he has found him, he puts him on his shoulders with joy. 6 And as soon as he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost! 7 I say to you that likewise there will be joy in heaven over one sinner that repents more than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
8 Or what woman who has ten drachmas, if she loses one, does not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and search diligently till she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and her neighbours, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma that I had lost. 10 Likewise I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons, 12 and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the part of the goods that belongs to me. And he divided the substance of his wealth between them. 13 And not long after, the younger son gathered all that he had together, and took his journey into a far country. And there he wasted his goods with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all that he had, there arose a great dearth throughout all that same land, and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and attached himself to a citizen of that same country, who sent him to his field to keep his swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his belly with the pods that the swine ate, but no man gave to him.
17 Then he came to himself and said, How many hired servants at my father’s have bread enough, and I am dying of hunger? 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.
20 And he arose and went to his father. And when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son. 22 But his father said to his servants, Bring forth that best garment and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring here the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is now found. And they began to be merry.
25 The elder brother was in the field, and when he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing, 26 and called one of his servants and asked what those things meant. 27 And the servant said to him, Your brother is come, and your father had the fatted calf killed, because he has received him safe and sound.
28 And the elder brother was angry and would not go in. Then his father came out and entreated him. 29 He answered and said to his father, Lo, these many years I have served you, and not once broken your commandment, and yet you never gave me so much as a kid to make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this your son comes, who has devoured your goods with harlots, you have for his pleasure killed the fatted calf!
31 And the father said to him, Son, you were always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive again, and was lost, and is found.
Luke 15
1599 Geneva Bible
15 The parable of the lost sheep. 8 Of the groat, 12 And of the prodigal son.
1 Then [a]resorted unto [b]him [c]all the Publicans and sinners, to hear him.
2 Therefore the Pharisees and Scribes murmured, saying, He receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 Then spake he this parable to them, saying,
4 (A)What man of you having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders with joy.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me: for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven for one sinner that converteth, more than for ninety and nine just men, which need none amendment of life.
8 Either what woman having ten groats, if she lose one groat, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends, and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me: for I have found the groat which I had lost.
10 Likewise I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the Angels of God, for one sinner that converteth.
11 ¶ [d]He said moreover, A certain man had two sons,
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of the goods that falleth to me. So he divided unto them his substance.
13 So not many days after, when the younger son had gathered all together, he took his journey into a far country, and there he wasted his goods with riotous living.
14 Now when he had spent all, there arose a great dearth throughout that land, and he began to be in necessity.
15 Then he went and clave to a citizen of that country, and he sent him to his farm, to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine ate: but no man gave them him.
17 [e]Then he came to himself, and said, How many hired servants at my father’s have bread enough, and I die for hunger?
18 I will rise and go to my father, and say unto him, Father, I have sinned against [f]heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thine hired servants.
20 So he arose and came to his father, and when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 [g]And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 Then the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet,
23 And bring the fat calf, and kill him, and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again: and he was lost, but he is found. And they began to be merry.
25 [h]Now the elder brother was in the field, and when he came and drew near to the house, he heard melody, and dancing,
26 And called one of his servants, and asked what those things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fat calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 Then he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.
29 But he answered, and said to his father, Lo, these many years have I done thee service, neither brake I at anytime thy commandment, and yet thou never gavest me a kid that I might make merry with my friends.
30 But when this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy goods with harlots, thou hast for his sake killed the fat calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son thou art ever with me, and all that I have, is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again: and he was lost, but he is found.
Footnotes
- Luke 15:1 Or, draw near.
- Luke 15:1 We must not despair of them, which have gone out of the way, but according to the example of Christ, we must take great pains about them.
- Luke 15:1 Some Publicans and sinners came to Christ from all quarters.
- Luke 15:11 Men by their voluntary falling from God, having spoiled themselves of the benefits which they received of him, cast themselves headlong into infinite calamities: but God of his singular goodness, offering himself freely to them, whom he called to repentance, through the greatness of their misery wherewith they were tamed, doth not only gently receive them, but also enricheth them with far greater gifts, and blesseth them with the chiefest bliss.
- Luke 15:17 The beginning of repentance is the acknowledging of the mercy of God, which stirreth us to hope well.
- Luke 15:18 Against God, because he is said to dwell in heaven.
- Luke 15:21 In true repentance there is a feeling of our sins, joined with sorrow and shame, from whence springeth a confession, after which followeth forgiveness.
- Luke 15:25 Such as truly fear God, desire to have all men to be their fellows.
Luke 15
Authorized (King James) Version
15 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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